This balance will be sufficient to pay the cost of transportation on the lateral road from q to P, a distance of twenty miles, at ten cents per ton per mile; and the charge for freight along the improvement, from R to P, a distance of two hundred miles, at one cent per ton per mile. It would, therefore, be within the ability of the state or company, in this example, to extend the benefits of the improvement four hundred miles into the interior, instead of two hundred, and increase the tonnage of the line, with all the incidental advantages, 50 per cent., without sustaining any loss of revenue. 11. It is far from my intention here to advocate a tariff arranged with a view to this effect; but merely to show what is lost by those which are commonly adopted. Instead of draining only the country contained in the triangle Pn, which will supply the trade where the charge for toll is one cent, and freight one cent, by charging toll from M to P, and permitting all articles brought from beyond the angle P to pass free of toll, the shaded triangle 7Rq in the figure, will be added to the area using the work and supplying its tonnage. The value of the improvement to the country will be increased one half; the trade of the city at M will likewise be increased one half, and the value of the property of the commonwealth, as far as it is dependent on the activity of the work, will be proportionally augmented. But such an arrangement would effect injustice, and could not therefore receive the sanction of a government administered in a due regard to the first principles of its existence-the equal protection of the citizens, and an equitable distribution of the benefits which its constitution was intended to confer. Such a tariff would augment the tonnage of the line-but it would produce that result by taxing the citizen immediately at P $4, and excluding him from the work; and the neighbor immediately beyond P but $2, and inviting him at the expense of a premium. Besides these objections to this arrangement, there exists the additional and important one, that it would not fulfil another imperative condition-that of obtaining the greatest revenue from the trade. (To be continued.) RAILROADS. The following letter from Judge Wright, who was the Chief Engineer of the Erie Canal, and who is now in the service of the State of Virginia, to Col. Dexter, the Engineer of the Selma and Tennessee Railroad, treats of matters of the deepest interest to the State of Tennesse. It will be seen that Judge Wright is of opinion that a line of railroad from the Atlantic cities on the Eastern slope of the Alleghanies, in a South Westerly direction through the Virginia Valley and the Valley of the Tennessee to Gunter's landing, could never have a competing route, for all travel from the Atlantic cities to the cities of Mobile and New Orleans. JUDGE WRIGHT'S LETTER. Scott's Ferry, Albemarle Co. Va. My Dear Sir-I received your favor of the 20th ult. together with the Reports of the Selma and Tennessee Railroad Company. I have examined them carefully, and looked at the map of the United States, to see the full bearing of your great project. I confess to you that when I look at the importance of a line of Railroad from the Atlantic cities, on the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, in a southwesterly direction, through the Virginia Valley, and at the favorable character of the country, as elicited by the various surveys which have been made from Lynchburg and Buchanan, on James River, to the Tennessee liue, near the Boat Yard, showing that a route can be had without stationary power, and with grades not exceeding fifty or sixty feet to the mile, (and presuming, that by following the Valley of the Tennessee, favorable grades may be had to Gunter's Landing.) I think I see a location for a Railroad which can never have a competing route, for all travel from the Atlantic cities to the cities of Mobile and New Orleans. The two last years have satisfied most people that the Ohio cannot be relied upon for four or five month, and leaves too much uncertainty to induce travellers that way. The fact which you mentioned in your report of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, having taken action on the plan of getting to the Mississippi, by a railroad through three States, rather than rely upon the Ohio River, is strong evidence of the importance of something being done to remedy the evils in business, occasioned by severe droughts in the Western Rivers. Onr rivers on the Eastern slope are not subject to the same fluctuations of those west of the mountains, and the canal I ain now forming along James River, will never want water. The town of Buchanan, (Virginia Valley) is 200 miles above Richmond. To this point the canal will soon be done; it being now under contract to within 20 miles of that place. From Buchanan there will soon be a Railroad, which uniting at a point 30 miles distant, with a railroad from Lynchburg, will pass on South to the Tennessee line, a distance of 150 miles. The State of Tennessee has always been ready to meet Virginia, and carry it down by Knoxville, and so on to the line of Alabama. If, therefore, the State of Alabama brings up her line to the Tennessee river, at Gunter's landing, it is certain that the States of Tennessee and Virginia will not be backward in carrying it on through, to connect with the lines now done, and in great progress towards completion. This must and will be the case, and when once done, a look at the map of the United States, will satisfy any one that no route can be projected which can compete with this, in directness of course and easy grades, taken as a whole. I have examined your estimates of cost of grading and bridging. If you are correct in these, it shows a remarkably feasible route, and one not equalled in any country I have ever examined." You appear to have some difficulties on the first section, from Tennessee river, and think an inclined plane, with stationary power, may be required. I had rather have grades of 90 feet per mile, than stationary power;-and should prefer to increase the distance, rather than have a change of power, in any way, either by horses or steam. I wish you success in your application to Congress. I shall be very glad to see you when you come North, and to renew and brighten the chain of friendship, which has so long existed. Although now an old man, hard upon 70, still I am wandering about doing all the good 1 can, and shall continue to do so, while a kind and merciful Providence blesses me with health and the use of my faculties. In a few weeks we shall have an annual report of the James river and Kanawha company, and I will send you a copy. With much esteem, I am, dear Sir, Very truly yours. BENJ. WRIGHT, Civil Engineer. A. A. DEXTER, Esq., Civil Engineer. On examining the article in our last number, on Dr. Lardner's experiments, it appears that the writer has fallen into an error, which vitates , much of his reasoning. The article was prepared in haste, and the writer. is not at present in the city, but will doubtless make the necessary correction. For the present, we request a suspension of any criticism upon it. |